Headlines

Explore a chronological display of Cowboy State Daily’s articles.

Curt Hjorth, left, died in February. His family, including brother Joel, is suing CBH Co-op over his death.

Family Of Gillette Man Sues Co-op, Claims It Caused His Stress-Related Death

A Gillette family is suing a South Dakota cooperative after a 62-year-old businessman died of stress-related ulcers in February. They claim the company deliberately bankrupted the man and ultimately caused his death, allegations the company denies.

Julie MankinSeptember 21, 2026

Construction on the nuclear reactor for the TerraPower Natrium nuclear plant near Kemmerer, Wyoming, is underway. An advanced nuclear test facility also is taking shape at the site.

TerraPower Is Replacing Lead Contractor On Its Kemmerer Nuclear Plant

TerraPower is replacing the lead construction contractor on the next phase of its Natrium nuclear plant being built near Kemmerer, Wyoming. Mayor Robert Brown said he was surprised by the move, and construction on the first-of-its-kind plant is on track.

Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 21, 2026

Rodney Lee Anderson had a preliminary hearing last Friday in Weston County Circuit Court, where an attempted second-degree murder charge, two counts of aggravated burglary and an interference charge were all bound over to District Court.

Manhunt Suspect Hit With Attempted Murder Charge For Shooting At Weston Co. Deputy

A man accused of firing at a Weston County deputy who helped him get a hotel room is headed to district court on attempted second-degree murder charges. He told DCI agents he remembered the deputy getting him the room — but not shooting at him.

Kolby FedoreSeptember 21, 2026

Cheyenne Mom Admits Starving 50-Pound 13-Year-Old Son To Point Of Near Death

Through tears and with a shaky voice, the mother of a 50-pound 13-year-old admitted in a Cheyenne courtroom Monday morning she intentionally starved the boy to the point of pushing the teen close to death. Her husband’s child abuse trial starts Tuesday.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 21, 2026

Kevin Kolenda saratoga ice fishing 2 3 25

Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty To 2018 Saratoga Fishing Derby Scam, Faces 20 Years

A Connecticut man pleaded guilty last week to scamming the 2018 Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby. He sold an insurance policy against the derby’s $10,000 prize, and when someone caught the fish, he didn’t pay out. Kevin Kolenda faces up to 20 years in prison.

Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2026

Wyoming Has Powered America, We’re Ready for What Comes Next

Wyoming can help power America’s next chapter. Getting it right means listening to local voices, protecting existing utility customers, and creating opportunities that endure long after construction ends.

September 21, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Monday, September 21, 2026

Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6-10 a.m.

Jake NicholsSeptember 21, 2026

Gail Symons: Hey Maybe Campaign Like Voters Are Human Beings

Columnist Gail Symons writes, "The audience had given Bextel its time and attention. A closing statement is a chance to tell voters why they should support her. She spent much of hers attacking other people."

Gail SymonsSeptember 21, 2026

Sweetwater County Brings Back Former Superintendent To Fill In After Suspension

Former Sweetwater County School District 1 chief Paul Grube was appointed interim superintendent Sunday, less than a week after Joesph Libby was abruptly placed on administrative leave. “I’ll be honest with you, I never thought I’d be here,” Grube said.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 21, 2026

The rugged Morrison Jeep Trail, which rises 6,500 feet onto the Beartooth Plateau northwest of Cody, Wyoming, has been blasted with explosives to open it for the first time in four years.

Morrison Jeep Trail Blasted To Open Its 27 Rugged Switchbacks After 4 Years Closed

The rugged Morrison Jeep Trail, which rises 6,500 feet to the Beartooth Plateau northwest of Cody, Wyoming, has been blasted with explosives to open it for the first time in four years. Hardore off-roaders seek the trail out for its 27 steep switchbacks.

Andrew RossiSeptember 20, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, September 21, 2026

Monday's headlines include: * 19 Grizzlies Gorge * Boulder Bar: SOB Is Compliment * Bextel’s Legal Battle With Game & Fish

Mac WatsonSeptember 20, 2026

Chancey Williams on horseback at the 2023 Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Country Music Star Chancey Williams Says Success Rooted In Wyoming

Moorcroft native Chancey Williams has shared stages with Toby Keith, played the Grand Ole Opry, and is in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame. Despite his rise as a country music star, he says he looks forward to coming home to Wyoming the most.

Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2026

Artist and historian Larry Edgar examines the mysterious 1811 stones from Pappy-Po Butte at Old Trail Town in Cody. Edgar and his brother Bob Edgar investigated the butte after the first inscribed stone was found in 1978. Bob believed that the weathered sandstone inscriptions provide tantalizing physical evidence behind a much older local story of a battle on the butte.

Mysterious 1811 Pitchfork Ranch Rocks Change Timeline Of White Men In Bighorn Basin

Pitchfork Ranch cowboys had long heard about the battle of "Pappy-Po Butte," and the legends were affirmed when sandstone grave markers etched with "1811" were found. It's proof white men were in the Bighorn Basin earlier than thought, historians say.

Jackie DorothySeptember 20, 2026

Moving day for this autentic 1800s Chinese laundry and bath house, which now sits at the Pioneer Village in Lander.

Forgotten Lander Cabin Discovered To Be Historic 140-Year-Old Chinese Laundry

A forgotten cabin hiding behind a building on Lander’s Main Street was discovered to be the 140-year-old Chinese laundry of Sam Sing, an early and influential resident. The owner "was using the laundry as a storage shed,” said the local museum director.

Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2026

Bowhunter Zach Key held a 2D moose decoy in front of him to cross an alfalfa field during his hunt for this huge bull moose in southwest Wyoming.

Wyoming Bowhunter Walks Behind Moose Decoy To Fool Huge Bulls In Alfalfa Field

Bowhunter Zack Key of La Barge was struggling with how to get within range of two huge Shiras bull moose hanging out in an alfalfa field in southwest Wyoming. Then he decided to try holding a cow moose decoy in front of him and just walk in. It worked.

Mark HeinzSeptember 20, 2026

Elk 24 goes after a car at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone in a video by the National Park Service, one of

To Protect Harem, Yellowstone's ‘King Of Mammoth’ Elk Will Fight Anything — Even Cars

Yellowstone’s huge Elk 24 — aka the “King of Mammoth” — will fight anything during the rut to protect his harem, even cars. Because other bull elk seem to avoid Mammoth, Elk 24 is usually ready to pick fights with anything and anybody in the area.

Andrew RossiSeptember 20, 2026

Dennis Faerber, standing, watches archaelogists work at the Ladder Ranch during efforts to find the long-lost Jim Baker battle site. Inset is a portrait of Baker, circa 1876.

Savery Rancher Won’t Stop Searching For Jim Baker’s Long Lost 1841 Battle Site

Savery-area rancher Dennis Faerber has spent 18 years searching around the Little Snake River Valley for Jim Baker’s Long Lost 1841 battle site. He, and the Wyoming state archaeologist, believe they’re close to solving a 185-year-old mystery.

Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2026

After a career in the trenches as an NFL nose tackle, Rick “Big Ack” Ackerman moved to Wyoming and has spent nearly 30 years living out his Wild West dream. “I’m part mountain man, part cowboy,” he says.

How Rick Ackerman Went From The NFL To Wyoming Mountain Man And Musician

After a career in the trenches as an NFL nose tackle, Rick “Big Ack” Ackerman moved to Wyoming and has spent nearly 30 years living out his Western dream. “I’m part mountain man, part cowboy,” he says.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 20, 2026

Bags of garbage, a tire and pieces of a vehicle are among debris collected during a cleanup at the Fall Creek dispersed campsite.

Feds Fed Up With Whoever Trashed Bridger-Teton Campsite With 500 Pounds Of Garbage

After hauling another 500-plus pounds of garbage out of a public campsite, Bridger-Teton National Forest officials are fed up with whoever keeps trashing the spot. It’s happened at least five times and is now the focus of a federal investigation.

Kolby FedoreSeptember 20, 2026

Auctioneer Troy Black keeps bids coming in for "High Ride," an oil painting by David Frederick Riley, during the 45th Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale.

Cody's Buffalo Bill Art Show And Sale Bidders Pony Up More Than $1M In The Dark

A city-wide power outage didn't stop bidders in this weekend’s Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale from ponying up more than $1 million during one of the nation’s premier Western art events. The biggest spender was a bidder who bought nine pieces for more than $135,000.

Andrew RossiSeptember 20, 2026

Third-generation Boulder Bar owner Burke Steele enjoys a beer on a break from running the bar.

Drinking Wyoming: The SOB Who Showed Up Four Days Late To The Boulder Bar

The crowd at the Boulder Bar on a Sunday in September offers a representative sample of rural Sublette County: rancher, fishing guide, washed-up rodeo rider and retired rig mechanic. "You’re the son of a bitch from the newspaper, aren't ya?” the owner says.

Zakary SonntagSeptember 20, 2026

Slowly But Surely, Wyoming's Once-Stunning Aspen Alley Making A Comeback

After years in decline and die-off, the once-stunning Aspen Alley corridor in southern Wyoming’s Sierra Madre Mountains is making a comeback. Withing five years, “We'll have aspen so thick it'll be hard to walk through there,” says an area rancher.

Andrew RossiSeptember 19, 2026

Joan Barron: 'L-Triple C' Out, 'Wyoming State College' In, Like It Or Not

Columnist Joan Barron writes, “I think Wyoming State College is kind of lame. I find more appeal in “College of the High Plains.” Or something with “Frontier” in it. The college has a new brand, but it has no boots or lace. It has just a plain cotton frock.”

Joan BarronSeptember 19, 2026

Bill Sniffin: What To Do When Weather Closes Roads Here In Big Wonderful Wyoming

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “There are some places in Wyoming I call ‘pinch points’ like South Pass and Wind River Canyon. When they are closed you are screwed. You are just stranded. So, what to do? Weather reports are very accurate. It is best to pay attention and plan ahead.”

Bill SniffinSeptember 19, 2026

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